Preview — The Sign of the Symean
by R.A. Lindo

The Sign of the Symean

"If you like the Harry Potter series, you should definitely give this book a try." - Amazon customer Join the adventure. The magic awaits...

When twelve-year-old Kaira Renn discovers she is part of a magical family, she leaves the comfort of childhood and enters a place like no other: The Society for the Preservation of Magical Artefacts. Here, Kaira meets Guppy Grayling a"If you like the Harry Potter series, you should definitely give this book a try." - Amazon customer Join the adventure. The magic awaits...

When twelve-year-old Kaira Renn discovers she is part of a magical family, she leaves the comfort of childhood and enters a place like no other: The Society for the Preservation of Magical Artefacts. Here, Kaira meets Guppy Grayling and learns how to use magic, conjuring spells, charms and remedies. As their wizardry improves, Kaira and Guppy begin to investigate the mysterious events surrounding the magical society, quickly realising that all is not well ......more

I received this book as a part of Member Giveaway on Library Thing in exchange for my honest opinion.

Note: The entirety of this review exceeds the character limit for GoodReads reviews, so I have left out a bit. To read it in full, see my review of this on Library Thing.

This book, like so many young adult books that are pumped out these days, lacks balance. I feel like it had potential, but it was doomed by three issues that I grow weary of encountering in 80% of the young adult books I have reaI received this book as a part of Member Giveaway on Library Thing in exchange for my honest opinion.

Note: The entirety of this review exceeds the character limit for GoodReads reviews, so I have left out a bit. To read it in full, see my review of this on Library Thing.

This book, like so many young adult books that are pumped out these days, lacks balance. I feel like it had potential, but it was doomed by three issues that I grow weary of encountering in 80% of the young adult books I have read over the last five years. Honestly, I'm starting to feel that aspiring authors view YA as an "easy" genre start in to because the work can be riddled with grammar and spelling errors/oddities, world-building fail, and largely unresolved and overcomplicated plots as long as it also contains dangerous quests, teenage angst, some sort of "mystery," and a gifted child who falls into what I call the "oh-wait-i-am-awesome" category. I guess children who haven't developed critical thinking skills might be more forgiving, but I am not.

When possible or I feel inclined, I like to do a plot recap. I particularly like to do this for books I am on the fence about because it helps me assess, despite whatever other issues I might have with a book, how effectively the author told the story and explained the environment. This is because my ability to explain it to you unimpeded after the fact indicates my level of understanding overall. It also has the bonus of making any additional gaps, inconsistencies, unresolved situations, and unanswered questions apparent very quickly.

Unfortunately, it is not possible for me to do that in this case because there was just so much going on that I can't write a linear summary about what happened. It all happens in such quick succession (I think this book maybe spans four days?? perhaps only three??) and involves so many people, relationships, discoveries, and motivations, plus a bunch of magical terminology and nuances that I could not make enough connections to form a firm understanding. I would have to reread the entire book and take notes to be able to do this, which is not something I 1) should have to do, 2) want to do, or 3) would have the time to do (I have done it for some confusing novellas, but only because their brevity means I don't have to spend another two weeks reading it again). For a while, I was able to follow the plot, then at about 25%/30% in it started to get too difficult for me to understand what was going on and relate it to what had already happened. This was a bizarre conclusion to come to: the plot is pretty trite for something so complicated.

At the highest, most basic level, all I can tell you is that Kaira's dad is a super-important figure in a secret society that preserves magical artifacts and knowledge because that is (for some reason) safer than educating people about it (more on this later). By association with her father, she is also important and their family is clearly critical in fixing a catastrophe that is about to befall everyone. Kaira gets into lots of trouble and grave situations with her new best friend Guppy and Guppy's brother Jacob right away because they are, of course, left to their own devices when Kaira's dad and aunt have to tend to emergency business instead of giving Kaira the special first day they promised her. These children (for whatever reason) feel obligated to solve a mystery (or maybe ten mysteries, I can't tell anymore) that no powerful and connected adult has been able to solve for decades and, as a result, they turn the rules of the society upside-down, all the while Kaira learns how to do magic herself. Eventually, things get too hairy and they run away on a boat or something, apparently leaving the society to its own fate. That is basically it. Not all that original.

To counteract, cover up, or compensate for this triteness, the author attempted to create an overcomplicated "magical" world to accompany it. (Why do authors feel that for a book to be engrossing and taken seriously that it has to be grossly overcomplicated?) And, guess what that magical world reminded me of...

Yup.

Right from the get-go this is very Harry Potter-ish (which I guess was touted in how it was marketed but I had no idea until I had already written this review, so at least my comparison is validated). In the first couple chapters, we are taken to a good approximation of both Diagon Alley and the Ministry of Magic (which are just beyond the reaches of "normal" society--hidden, but not hidden), it becomes obvious that Kaira (or her family in general) is the key to something, she is well-known to people though she has no idea of her importance (just like Harry), and the government is covering up the appearance (or maybe reappearance) of some dark force (like Voldemort and the Death Eaters) which is killing off people and threatening to turn their world to darkness, so they must be dealt with.

Now, why do I bring this up. I bring this up because I think some people believe the Harry Potter series to be complicated, when in fact it's not. Conversely, I've also seen reviews complaining that it is too simplistic, but in my opinion those people don't realize that if it were any more complicated, it would not work--Symean is an excellent example of why it wouldn't work. Rowling did just enough to create a rich atmosphere and storyline without adding complexities that don't lend value to the plot or the world that might make it difficult for people to follow what's going on. It feels like Symean is trying to reinvent the Harry Potter world under this misconception that the Harry Potter plot and world are super-complex and so, therefore, their book riding on its coat tails must follow suit.

I am not saying that there is anything inherently wrong with trying to ride on the coat tails of a popular series. I am saying that it is unfortunate when it is not executed well. This is because instead of making me curious and fulfilled, these things just make me never want to read anything by authors who do this ever again because there is no satisfaction or enjoyment in feeling like I have to open OneNote and dedicate an entire notebook > section > page structure to log things like: what words mean and what they relate to, how the doors and elevators and "emergency" portals of this world work, which places can be accessed by whom and why, who stole what for what reason and sold it to so-and-so and then killed some other person over it, and on and on. Basically, I shouldn't feel like I, the reader, am the one outlining the book. At one point, along with trying to understand all the creatures and rules and buildings and ways of travel and government and kinds of magic and characters and animals and vendettas and motivations and connections and terminology and blood feuds and buildings and forbidden lands and society lands and normal lands and on and on and on, I was also trying to track these plot points, unanswered questions, inconsistencies, and other oddities:

- Did Kaira's dad essentially kidnap Guppy and Jacob at the end? O_o That's what it seemed like to me...

- What happened to Kaira's mother? Maybe this will be significant later. I wouldn't be surprised if she just randomly showed up later and was never dead to begin with due to obligations to the society. Why doesn't Kaira just look at the Follygrin to learn about her mother? Even if she's dead, it might've shown her something--or, she'd learn she's not dead after all.

- What happened to Kaira's grandfather and what does all this mean for Kaira being part Koll? Why doesn't Kaira look him up in the Follygrin? And doesn't this mean her father is also part Koll and what exactly did the grandfather do and why isn't Kaira considered "dangerous" if they know she has this Koll blood? Will this frowned-upon-but-possibly-powerful part of her be the thing that helps her defeat whatever darkness is threatening, redeem her grandfather, and earn her a real place in the society?

- For that matter, what happened to her grandmothers and her other grandfather? I guess we just assume they died normally, but given the complications of her family, it seems like these things would be significant.

- Who is really behind all of this? It seems like all of these society people who are turning bad or trying to hide things or sell things or kill people are pawns of a larger enemy. Who is it? And, what does whoever want it for, anyway? I guess they want the Terrecet to "control all dark animals" or whatever and take over the world? But for what purpose and reason?

- What is Guppy's mom going to do with the Terrecet piece, exactly? What is she waiting for? Why is she storing it? Is it going to someone else? Is she hoping to get the rest of the pieces? Is she really going to use it just to become head of this society and that is all? Seems like kind of an epic risk for very little reward.

- What is up with Jacob's loss of control and hurting that woman? Is that supposed to mean he will be trouble later? Is it a significant plot point or just a thing that happened? Is he the "bad" one and not his mom??

- Is Kaira's aunt really sleeping with the guy from the Orium Circle? What is going to come of that? It seems an odd plot point in a YA book--I mean, they are both unattached adults so it's not like it's an affair, but sleeping with a coworker, especially a high-powered one, can definitely cause problems and it was a main subplot that was brought up a lot.

- I don't really get the "seven steps for seven sands" thing in "The Curse of the Saralin Sands" tale. Was Elias a fool for not clarifying beyond "I must trade years of my life for grains of golden sand?" Did it mean that each step is equal to seven years, so seven steps times seven years is 49 years and that is why he got old? Is it his bad for assuming one step equals one year and he really should have asked, "How many years of my life does each step cost?" I don't really understand the nuances or what I am supposed to take away from that, aside from that it's best to really make sure of what you're getting into.

-- Incidentally, I think I sort of connected at one point that we are supposed to realize that this fable is true and the gifts Elias got from the creature named Symean in exchange for his years of life create the Terrecet which is the weapon that can control all the creatures of the underworld. I think?? But, then I couldn't understand why this book wasn't called something like "The Trouble of the Terrecet" or something like that because we learn that the "sign" appears to be a tattoo on the back of someone's neck but that doesn't seem very significant because the Symean is just a creature who didn't actually seem to be evil (maybe tricky but not evil) and the Terrecet is really the dangerous thing.

- Why didn't the spider web thing catch Guppy's mom when they went into the special hearing? (For that matter, why didn't her penchant dim and become unusable with all of her suspicious activities?) It is beaten into us that she is up to no-good and she is a bad person who craves only power at any cost and it's insinuated that her motives are selfish and she doesn't care who she hurts, yet the web that is supposed to detect your intentions didn't stop her (I had fully expected their mom to try to go through it and be disallowed entry, then was confused when this didn't happen). Is this an oversight or inconsistency by the author? Or maybe we are to take away from it that maybe Guppy's mom is actually trying to protect people (including her children whom she always seems to ignore and abuse) with what she is doing and everyone interprets her actions as nefarious? I am guessing the web will come back because why else construct such a device into the plot if you aren't going to pointedly use it later, so maybe this is foreshadowing a later time when Guppy's mom (or maybe even someone else) will be outed by the web?

- Kaira and Guppy between them have three very powerful artifacts that let them spy on what someone is doing now or what someone did in the past. I realize they have them without the permission or knowledge of their adults and that these artifacts are considered rare (so they shouldn't exactly be commonplace, yet if you DO get one there is NO restriction on how or when to use it! You have carte blanche to basically look at anyone at any time, whether past or present). But, I am annoyed that these artifacts obviously provide the deus ex machina for these girls to get involved and "solve" the mystery, yet I also can't reconcile away this convenience because they acquired them so easily and these objects interfere with privacy like that. It makes no sense to me, nor do I believe they could have actually hidden from the adults that they have them (no matter how they acquired them) AND that there are no... I don't know, "security sensors" at the ministry that don't allow anyone without permission to have items like that to enter.

- Honestly, so many of the potions and curses and spells and artifacts and remedies just seem... morally questionable and are used often, like as a matter of standard practice?? Like the remedy that removes all negative thoughts and feelings to "cure" criminal behavior before it becomes too big of a problem? Several artifacts that spy on people: in the past, in real-time, and even one that doesn't spy on your actions necessarily on you but weeds you out based on your intent to do harm (so, lay blame before they actually act on that intent--is this Minority Report?)? It made all the "good" the society proclaims it's doing to just feel... gross.

- Why are there 30 elevator stops when there are six "special" stops + 26 letters of the alphabet (so it seems like there should be 32)?

- We found out where her dad was, but we still have no idea what he is doing or why he is there, other than to possibly negotiate something? Though it looks like he is negotiating with dark forces, so...

- I sort of felt like all the many potions and curses and spells and artifacts and remedies were invented simply to circumvent difficult points in the book that would require an actual plot because they were all too convenient AND that it was overly convenient that Guppy, no matter how clever and resourceful she is, always seemed to have just what they needed or Kaira would just be given or randomly find what she needed.

- The society makes a big deal of focusing on preservation instead of teaching how to practice magic, but this... just seemed weird and counterproductive to me. How can you preserve something if you aren't teaching about it to pass on the legacy, and if you aren't teaching about it what is the point of preserving it for anyone. Further, doesn't that endanger the whole world by not teaching how to use it properly? Still further, is it morally right to hide away all of this stuff under the guise of "preservation" and, basically, denial? Seems more like hoarding knowledge for power, in which case, how is that any different than what the enemy is doing?? At one point Kaira muses to herself that: "...her understandings of the Society's focus on preserving magic became more evident - for its misuse could lead to catastrophe." But, they make it sound like "preserving" means "not using it," except the Society uses it all the time?? So, if it's okay for them to use it, who is it not okay for? Which only opens a flood of questions about world building elements that are missing regarding how many society families are there, how are they found, what about the outside world? Is this saying that only special people are let into the society now but that previously ANYone could have learned about magic? Are you born with it or do you just learn and only then if you have the privilege of being in a family where people are already in the society?

- The candy shop was just... creepy. The descriptions of how the children enjoyed it felt so gluttonous and disgusting and pointed that it seemed like it would have to mean something, like it was brainwashing them with dark magic or it was some sort of social commentary. Though, I did think the combination of candy and augmented reality was intriguing (from what I could tell, the candy created an effect on your tongue, sort of like when SnapChat overlays filters on your face, except it is something you eat and it creates a similar effect on your tongue, which, now that I think of it, is disturbing considering whatever could be commingling with your saliva doing who knows what).

- What about the supposedly dead guy who gave Kaira the Follygrin. Was it a ghost? Is he really alive? Did he fake his own death? Is he back to help save the world? Why would he treat Kaira to such a precious (and, frankly, questionable) gift?

- Kaira, Guppy, and Jacob never seem to consider that other people could use charms against them. For example, they use the muffling charm as though it's a shield and never once consider that there might be SPIES around who can DISARM it. But, maybe even weirder is that other people AREN'T using charms against them. These children act suspiciously all the time, even when they are directly under adult supervision for almost dying and endangering others, yet none of the adults think to maybe leave some charms to track their movements or look at what they did in the past or listen at doors or check a Follygrin to see where they are. This just seemed like a major oversight to me.

There is more, but I can't be bothered to reread everything to note it here.

I have an issue with authors who are unable to pare down what they include in their books. Complication does NOT equal a strong plot or a strong world, especially if the author cannot logically and adequately explain it to someone else and/or the author does not have the self-awareness to get unbiased outside help that can guide them in doing all this constructively and meaningfully.

Also, the ending. *sigh* As I grew nearer and had only 10% left, I could tell this would be yet another book where there is basically no ending and almost nothing is explained. I am so done with these books that are written with open endings so vast that the reader is simply left lost with no satisfying resolution to any part of the story, no understanding or appreciation of the world, and no real investment in what happens to the characters. (Though I do have to say that, even if the characters were like cardboard cutouts of personality types and functions, I think their development in here may have been one of the better aspects of this book.) There is a difference between "leaving a book open to continue the adventure" and "obviously trying to manipulate your audience into buying five books from you because that is the only way for them to know what happens about anything."

Lastly, I'd like to mention that this book could have used a good proofread and some editing. There were lots of typographical errors (just a few examples: "tyring" instead of "trying," "Gralying" instead of "Grayling," "quiet" instead of "quite"), some outright misspellings ("series" instead of "serious"), words used repeatedly in a sentence ("stretching" used twice in quick succession in a sentence to describe stairs), frequent misuses of colons and apostrophes and other punctuation, and some very oddly structured sentences (sort of like those that would result from bad translation of text from another language into English). Simple fixes to these areas would have made the book more readable....more

The cover has a spookiness to it, as it should since it’s a picture representing another world or reality. The art very much reminds me of a much older style, 1950s-ish. I hope on the paperback version it looks a bit more lively.

This is the beginning of a set of adventures for a young girl, Kaira Renn, who lives with her father, Casper Renn, and her Aunt Phee . She knows there’sThe Sign Of The Symean

A Kaira Renn Novel

R.A. Lindo

Jul 2018

292 pages, Kindle, paperback

Fantasy, Young Adult

Provided

✮✮✮✮

The cover has a spookiness to it, as it should since it’s a picture representing another world or reality. The art very much reminds me of a much older style, 1950s-ish. I hope on the paperback version it looks a bit more lively.

This is the beginning of a set of adventures for a young girl, Kaira Renn, who lives with her father, Casper Renn, and her Aunt Phee . She knows there’s more to them than they say, but they won’t tell her anything. Until she eavesdrops one night. The next morning her father tells her it’s time for her to know the whole story. She finds out that her family is involved in a world of magic. Not just involved, but she discovers that her father is very well thought of and rather important in this society. Aunt Phee’s no slouch either, and she has a boyfriend! Kaira makes a couple of friends her own age on her first day of being introduced to the community of magical people, Jacob and Guppy Grayling, a brother and sister. Guppy and Kaira become close almost immediately. Their mother, Meyen Grayling, is not nice to them or anyone else. And she seems to resent Kaira’s father quite a bit. She also appears to be up to something sneaky. Mr. Renn is called into an urgent meeting as soon as he, Aunt Phee, and Kaira first arrive at the headquarters, so no one really has a close eye on the younger set. They get up to their own things, which the adults wouldn’t necessarily have approved of had they known what it was. Before Kaira can tell her father of their suspicions about Mrs. Grayling, they are swept off on a society journey with her father and Farraday, one of Mr. Renn’s associates and someone that Kaira considers almost family.

The author is writing about magic and fantasy, and yet it all seems perfectly reasonable and almost everyday sort of stuff. Of course, you can go to the jewelers, enter a door to a very long hallway and come out into another world. Perfectly reasonable. My elevator takes me to different buildings, doesn’t yours? And possibly to different worlds, too, if you’re not careful. The author seems to almost talk down the magic of the magic if you get what I mean. The wonder of it.

The main character, Kaira Renn, is well done. She’s done just right for a girl who has turned twelve. Guppy is the impulsive one in the trio. It does get her into trouble. Jacob tries to be the responsible one but doesn’t always succeed. The adults are rather shadowy figures in comparison to this group of three youngsters. They are really in the spotlight with the main focus definitely on Kaira and her early entry into their community, her “coming of age”.

The pace is brisk and keeps you wondering if these kids ever get a break. You have to pay attention so you don’t miss anything and keep up. They keep the adults around them running from one almost disaster to another to keep them out of trouble. With so much happening, the tension can’t be anything else but high all throughout the book right from the beginning when Kaira is first listening in on a conversation not meant for her ears. But at least that first time she’s only listening with her ears!

My one complaint is that the book ended rather abruptly right after the trio has discovered Jacob and Guppy’s mother is up to something bad and dangerous that Mr. Renn should know about and right after they take off on their journey. I know we’re being set up for the next book, but a smoother ending or more book would have been better, I think. This is only the first of a five-book series. I hope they aren’t all cliffhangers.

I was really looking forward to reading a new urban fantasy novel with a middle-grade protagonist. By the time I got to the end, I had rather mixed feelings about the book.

Let me start with the things that I really liked about this book. Lindo creates an entirely unique world from scratch, and I didn't feel that this was a repeat of some other mainstream middle-grade fantasy novel. Almost everything had its own unique name, so I was able to differentiate which items were from the "real" world anI was really looking forward to reading a new urban fantasy novel with a middle-grade protagonist. By the time I got to the end, I had rather mixed feelings about the book.

Let me start with the things that I really liked about this book. Lindo creates an entirely unique world from scratch, and I didn't feel that this was a repeat of some other mainstream middle-grade fantasy novel. Almost everything had its own unique name, so I was able to differentiate which items were from the "real" world and which were from the fantasy world. There was some sort of council that was in charge of the fantasy world, which made the new world feel complete. Without any form of governing, fantasy worlds can feel too fake.

What I struggled with while reading this book was trying to keep up with the amount of information being thrown at me. I love fantasy worlds that are very in-depth, but I felt almost as confused as Kaira was in this story. All of these new terms were new to me, and by the end, I couldn't remember what words were connected to which objects. It felt as if I had moved to a country that was sort of like mine, but that spoke a completely different language. There were some "translators" in Kaira's father and some friends that Kaira meets along the way, but I still felt confused.

The novel is fast-paced, which I usually enjoy, but I believe that it might have been a little too fast-paced. I felt as if I was flying from scene to scene, and while some chapters had semi-decent transitions, others did not. By the time I got to the 80% mark some of this confusion had been alleviated, but I had wished that I had been able to get closer to the characters individually without feeling rushed.

The last thing that stuck out to me as I read this novel was the character development. The character development and the personalities of the characters themselves were pretty unique. Kaira was a bit young to be finding out about the magical world as most parents didn't tell their children until the child turned 18, but Kaira's father thought she was mature enough to know. There were some other kids her age there, so she was able to befriend them. Each person had a different background as some had basically grown up around magic while others had been sheltered from it until they turned a certain age. I did enjoy seeing the other characters interact with Kaira and seeing how they grew throughout the events in the book.

I have to say, I would still recommend this novel. It is a fully unique urban fantasy novel for middle-grade students, and the story is really fun. Middle-grade readers would definitely enjoy this novel as it is not babyish in any way. Adult or YA readers would like this book for how intricate the world is. I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. ...more

I really liked this book. A lot of books claim to be similar to the Harry Potter books, but I found that this one did have something of the same feel. The Society for the Preservation of Magical Artefacts, with its spells, charms, and magical objects, is reminiscent of the Wizarding World. And so is the increasingly strong hint of danger surrounding it.

Kaira Renn had no inkling of what her father and her aunt were involved in until one day one of their closest family friends shows up with a straI really liked this book. A lot of books claim to be similar to the Harry Potter books, but I found that this one did have something of the same feel. The Society for the Preservation of Magical Artefacts, with its spells, charms, and magical objects, is reminiscent of the Wizarding World. And so is the increasingly strong hint of danger surrounding it.

Kaira Renn had no inkling of what her father and her aunt were involved in until one day one of their closest family friends shows up with a strange tale of something sinister sounding that Kaira overhears while trying to listen at the top of the stairs. The next day she is herded off to the Market Square where, after a visit to the unique sweet shop, Wimples, she is taken into the depths of another shop where, through a fairly ordinary looking door, they enter one of the buildings of the Society.

One place where the Society for the Preservation of Magical Artefacts could take a lesson from the Wizarding World is in training their young members. Apparently, the members of the Society normally don’t tell their children about it until they are at least eighteen – if they tell them at all.

But Kaira manages to make the acquaintance of one girl, Guppy Grayling, who has been introduced to the society at an age not much older than Kaira herself. Guppy’s mother, like Kaira’s father, has a high position in the Society, but unlike Kaira’s father, Guppy’s mother does not seem to care much about her children. Guppy has managed to teach herself quite a bit about the history and use of magical artefacts, and she agrees to teach Kaira.

Guppy and her older brother, Jacob, show Kaira around the Society. Apparently, Guppy knows just enough to be dangerous, and before two days have passed, they have managed to get themselves into trouble. It is only then that it occurs to the Society’s ruling body that maybe they should begin educating their younger members.

A lot of mysteries are brought up, and very few of them are finally resolved. It looks like there will be more to this series....more

I received this book in exchange for an for an honest review. I definitely recommend reading the prequel The Rise of Ameedis because it really sets the stage. A widower father, Casper Renn, and his sister, Philomeena Renn, helping to raise his daughter, Kaira, in our everyday magicless world. Unbeknownst to Kaira her father and Aunt are members of Society for the Preservation of Magical Artifacts where real magic and magical beings abound. The magical environment the author has created may be siI received this book in exchange for an for an honest review. I definitely recommend reading the prequel The Rise of Ameedis because it really sets the stage. A widower father, Casper Renn, and his sister, Philomeena Renn, helping to raise his daughter, Kaira, in our everyday magicless world. Unbeknownst to Kaira her father and Aunt are members of Society for the Preservation of Magical Artifacts where real magic and magical beings abound. The magical environment the author has created may be similar to Harry Potter but so very different, unique with its magical being, potions, charms, artifacts, worlds and so. Kaira and her new friend Guppy are very young teens and guppy's brother Jacob is 18. At this time they are the only kids allowed into this society for certain reasons hence they form a very close friendship. The majority of the adventure revolves around this friendship and their parents. But it is so much deeper than that with intrigue, danger, mystery and a lot of getting into trouble with going through magical portals, spying on others via magical devices and leaping before they look into who knows what. I love that the author has the kids becoming aware of a world where magic is not just fun and beauty but dangerous too especially in the wrong hands. Limits must be learned and courage is rewarded, what is right and wrong and the fine line between everything. His descriptions are detailed and the flow from scene to scene paints wonderful images. I was so drawn into the story that I was disappointed by the sudden ending and anxious for the next book which I hope is very soon. I believe any lover of magic and fantasy worlds will really enjoy this book....more

I wanted to like this book. No, scratch that. I wanted to love this book. I mean, Harry Potter was one of my favourite series, and the top line on the Amazon description is "if you like ... Harry Potter ... give this book a try". High praise indeed.

And, whilst I can see what that reviewer meant, I'm afraid that for me, that comparison didn't work.

I had a few issues with this book. Not, I will say, with the main protagonists - they were shaping up nicely, even if their behaviour wasn't age apI wanted to like this book. No, scratch that. I wanted to love this book. I mean, Harry Potter was one of my favourite series, and the top line on the Amazon description is "if you like ... Harry Potter ... give this book a try". High praise indeed.

And, whilst I can see what that reviewer meant, I'm afraid that for me, that comparison didn't work.

I had a few issues with this book. Not, I will say, with the main protagonists - they were shaping up nicely, even if their behaviour wasn't age appropriate.

No, I'm afraid that I struggled with the bones of the story. Firstly, the audience that this was being written for seemed to swing from High School to more adult and back.

Then there was the narrative. For me, it seemed to jump around. It was almost as if the author had the plot in his head, but had forgotten to commit parts of it to paper, such that different people or things were introduced out of the blue, but with an expectation of prior knowledge on the reader's part.

It also felt that there were a lot of plot threads that the author was trying to pull together, but it felt too ... busy.

Each of these on their own would have been distracting. Put them all together, and I'm afraid this was a DNF for me.

I absolutely loved this story. Saying that you will like it if you like Harry Potter doesn’t do it justice as it is so totally different. A young girl, Kaira, is finally allowed into a world she didn’t know existed—magical. We learn that there are all kinds of parallel words and many ways to get to them. Floating floors you can sink thru, a lightyou decide where you want to be—walk thru and there you are. Adventure/danger/heroics are all present and this is just the first of a trilogy(?). LuckyI absolutely loved this story. Saying that you will like it if you like Harry Potter doesn’t do it justice as it is so totally different. A young girl, Kaira, is finally allowed into a world she didn’t know existed—magical. We learn that there are all kinds of parallel words and many ways to get to them. Floating floors you can sink thru, a lightyou decide where you want to be—walk thru and there you are. Adventure/danger/heroics are all present and this is just the first of a trilogy(?). Lucky for Kaira she makes best friends with Jacob and Guppy—did I say Lucky? Guppy is fearless and hopefully she won’t get them killed. J & G’s mother is a power hungry lady that doesn’t really care for her kids. Kaira’s dad and aunt love her very much and extend their love to J & G, something they don’t get at home. There is a lot to learn about this new world (for us) and it is fast past and needs a few corrections but it is a cracking read and I would recommend it to kids and adults. I was given this book to read for free—I can tell you it is definitely a way to get me to buy anymore with Kaira in it—can’t wait...more

This is a new author to me and since I love to discover authors who provide excellent reads, I am happy to report this is so with this book. This is a magically strange experience that will keep you reading and turning the pages. I'm new to the fantasy reading as well although I have some favorites that are fantasy/sci fi mix that I love and this is why I decided to try this book. I'm so glad I did. Great job and hope for more!

I received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily giving my honest reThis is a new author to me and since I love to discover authors who provide excellent reads, I am happy to report this is so with this book. This is a magically strange experience that will keep you reading and turning the pages. I'm new to the fantasy reading as well although I have some favorites that are fantasy/sci fi mix that I love and this is why I decided to try this book. I'm so glad I did. Great job and hope for more!

I received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily giving my honest review....more

an interesting read. 2 young females Kaira and Guppy show initiative and curiosity in this book of magic and how it will influence their lives as both parents are high in the order of the Society.Although their developement in learning various traits is provided by Jacob teh brother from Guppy, both sometimes have their own Agenda which makes for inteesting reading.

I'm the creator of the Kaira Renn fantasy series - a new urban fantasy packed with mystery, action, adventure and, above all, magic.

Set in The Society for the Preservation of Magical Artefacts, it follows the adventures of a young girl who has to learn magic and a lot of other things along the way! The series will contain five books.

I also write short thrillers under the pen name E.G. Ellory.

YouI'm the creator of the Kaira Renn fantasy series - a new urban fantasy packed with mystery, action, adventure and, above all, magic.

Set in The Society for the Preservation of Magical Artefacts, it follows the adventures of a young girl who has to learn magic and a lot of other things along the way! The series will contain five books.